Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a housing assembly. A displacement control structure for the variable displacement compressor includes a passage forming member, a flat partition and a displacement control valve. The passage forming member is connected to an exterior surface of the housing assembly for forming a refrigerant passage for allowing the refrigerant to be discharged out from the compressor to an external refrigerant circuit. The flat partition is interposed between the passage forming member and the housing assembly. A throttle penetrates through the partition, which divides the refrigerant passage into an upstream passage and a downstream passage. The displacement control valve is provided in the passage forming member. The displacement control valve senses pressure of refrigerant in the upstream passage and pressure of the refrigerant in the downstream passage to control flow rate of the refrigerant flowing through a supply passage.

Abstract: A gas sensor apparatus 3 in an air-fuel ratio detection system 1 includes a gas sensor element 4 which outputs a detection signal corresponding to air-fuel ratio, and a gas sensor control circuit 2 which includes a detection section 20 for outputting a first output signal VIP1, a second output signal VIP2, and a third output signal VIP3 in accordance with the detection signal. This detection section 20 outputs the first output signal VIP1 which changes in accordance with the air-fuel ratio at least within a wide first air-fuel ratio zone, the second output signal VIP2 which changes in accordance with the air-fuel ratio within a narrow zone in the vicinity of the stoichiometric ratio, and the third output signal VIP3 which changes in accordance with the air-fuel ratio within a narrow zone in the lean region.

Abstract: A gas sensor control apparatus 5 is connected to a gas sensor (8) including cells (14, 24) each having a pair of electrodes provided on a solid electrolyte body (13, 23), and includes a sensor drive circuit (52). The gas sensor control apparatus (5) includes an instruction unit for outputting an instruction for setting the sensor drive circuit (52) to a deenergization state so as to stop the supply of electricity to the cells (14, 24) and an instruction for setting the sensor drive circuit (52) to an energization state so as to supply electricity to the cells (14, 24); a setting unit (55) for setting the sensor drive circuit (52) to the deenergization state or the energization state; and a wiring anomaly detection unit (58) for detecting a wiring anomaly of the sensor drive circuit (52) or the gas sensor (8).

Abstract: A gas sensor system including a gas sensor; a current control unit; a constant control unit; and a temperature acquisition unit. The gas sensor includes a measurement chamber, a pump cell and an electromotive force cell. The current control unit performs feedback control on current flowing through the pump cell in response to the voltage of the electromotive force cell and in accordance with a control constant which characterizes the feedback control. Further, the constant control unit changes the control constant of the feedback control in accordance with a value (for example, a resistance value of the electromotive force cell) corresponding to the temperature of the gas sensor.

Abstract: In an activation state of a sensor device, when voltage on the connection points between the sensor device and the sensor control circuit becomes a preset abnormal value, electric cut off is made between the sensor control circuit and the connection point. Then, the delivery of power to the heater is ceased to lower the temperature of the cells to a below of an activation temperature, thereby increasing the internal resistance of the cell. Thereafter, the sensor control circuit supplies to the sensor device a current in a degree not to damage the sensor device, to detect voltages on the connection points at that time. By comparing between the voltages on the respective connection points detected, a content and location of abnormality occurred is identified for the sensor device.

Abstract: To enable change of a concentration of atmosphere in a process chamber and realize a plasma reaction process required for manufacturing a liquid crystal device and a semiconductor device with a high yield at a low cost. A new flow rate setting value given to a pressure control type flow rate adjusting device of each constituent gas is a value obtained by calculating back from the process gas concentration after an estimated change under the condition that the total flow rate value is identical before and after the concentration change. A pressure controller of an exhaust pipe is switched from a pressure setting mode to a valve open setting mode only for a predetermined small time from the modification start and receives a valve open setting value obtained experimentally so as to mitigate the pressure fluctuation immediately after the change.

Abstract: A gas concentration detection apparatus and system including a gas sensor. Voltage Vd generated across detection resistor Rd through which pump current Ip flows is differentially amplified by OP1, and offset voltage Vofs is superposed thereon to obtain a detection voltage Vout. The amplification factor applied to the differential amplification of the voltage Vd is changed by turning switch SW3 on and off. When switch SW2 is turned on, the input terminal potentials of the operational amplifier OP1 are equalized, so that voltage Vofs is output as the detection voltage Vout. The detection voltage Vout contains an error attributable to the electronic components which form the circuit. The detection voltage Vout containing the error when SW2 is turned on is acquired as a correction voltage for each amplification factor, and is used for correction at the time of detection of the concentration so as to cancel the error.

Abstract: The compressor has a differential pressure type flow rate detector that obtains the pressure in an upstream passage and the pressure in a downstream passage to detect a refrigerant flow rate within a refrigerant passage. The detector has an accommodation chamber, and a partition body slidably accommodated within the accommodation chamber. The partition body comparts the accommodation chamber into a high pressure chamber to which the pressure in the upstream passage is introduced, and a low pressure chamber to which the pressure in the downstream passage is introduced. The compressor has an oil separator having an oil introduction passage connected to the oil separating chamber and a high pressure introduction passage introducing the pressure in the upstream passage to the high pressure chamber. The oil introduction passage introduces the oil separated from the refrigerant by the oil separator to a pressure zone other than a discharge pressure zone.

Abstract: A gas sensor system includes a gas sensor capable of producing an output signal responsive to the concentration of a specific gas component in measurement gas, a gas concentration determination device that makes electrical connections to the gas sensor and determines the concentration of the specific gas component according to the output signal of the gas sensor, a failure detection device that detects a potential failure in any one of the electrical connections, a sensor temperature determination device that judges whether the gas sensor has been cooled to a predetermined temperature or lower with reference to a sensor temperature parameter and a failure identification device that, when the gas sensor has been cooled to the predetermined temperature or lower, outputs a diagnosis signal to the gas sensor, measures potentials of the electrical connections under the diagnosis signal and identifies in which of the electrical connections the potential failure is occurring based on the measured potentials.

Abstract: The compressor is provided with an oil separator for separating oil from refrigerant gas introduced into a separation chamber, an annular space for reserving oil separated from the refrigerant gas, and a reservoir chamber for reserving the thus separated oil. The oil separator is provided in a cylindrical hole formed in a discharge chamber from which the refrigerant gas is discharged and a lid for partitioning the cylindrical hole from the discharge chamber is provided in the cylindrical hole. The oil separator introduces the refrigerant gas from the discharge chamber to the separation chamber via the introduction passage. The annular space is provided around the lid and connected to the reservoir chamber via an oil passage. The reservoir chamber is connected to a crank chamber of a pressure lower than that in the discharge chamber.

Abstract: A heat sink for dissipating a heat from an object includes a plurality of fins. The fins are arranged radially about a center axis to be spaced away from one another, and extend outward in a radial direction substantially perpendicular to the center axis. Each fin is branched at at least two different positions in the radial direction into at least three fin end portions spaced away from one another.

Abstract: A method of controlling a memory device connectable to an information apparatus for sending out a command to the memory device, the memory device having a medium for storing data and a head for writing data into and reading data from the medium, the method includes storing parameter information for writing data into and reading out the data from the medium into the medium when formatting the medium, writing into the medium history information indicating user data has been written into the medium in accordance with the parameter information, and determining whether to allow the parameter information to be changed when a command for writing new parameter information is received from the information apparatus in accordance with the history information.

Abstract: A compressor having a discharge chamber into which compressed refrigerant gas is discharged, a discharge passage connected to the discharge chamber, an oil separation device that centrifugally separate oil from the refrigerant gas, an oil reservoir chamber that communicates with a separation chamber through an oil passage and retains the oil separated from the refrigerant gas, and a filter provided between the separation chamber and the oil passage is disclosed. The oil reservoir chamber communicates with a low pressure zone in the compressor the pressure of which is lower than the pressure in the discharge chamber. The oil reservoir chamber thus supplies the separated oil to the low pressure zone. The oil separation device is arranged in the discharge passage in such a manner as to define the separation chamber. The oil separation device centrifugally separate the oil from the refrigerant gas by causing swirling of the refrigerant gas that has been sent to the separation chamber.

Abstract: In a structure for mounting a filter in a compressor, a mounting member is connected to the filter. A receiving hole is formed in a housing of the compressor for receiving therein the mounting member. A first fitting portion is formed on an inner circumferential surface of a holding portion of the filter. A second fitting portion is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the mounting member for having fitting relation to the first fitting portion for an overlap distance in a radial direction of the receiving hole. When the mounting member is received in the receiving hole with the fitting relation, the filter is disposed in a fluid passage of the housing. A clearance having a dimension is formed between an outer circumferential surface of the holding portion and an inner circumferential surface of the receiving hole. Minimum value of the dimension is smaller than the overlap distance.

Abstract: A variable displacement compressor includes a housing, a rotary shaft, a swash plate, a suction pressure region, a suction throttle valve, an oil reservoir, a lubricating oil passage, a gas flow passage, a communication passage, and a throttle mechanism. The suction-pressure region includes a suction chamber and a suction passage. The suction throttle valve is arranged in the suction passage and defines an upstream suction-pressure region and a downstream suction-pressure region. The lubricating oil passage connects the oil reservoir to the upstream suction-pressure region. The gas flow passage connects the crank chamber to the suction chamber. The communication passage connects the lubricating oil passage to at least one of the downstream suction-pressure region, the gas flow passage and the crank chamber. The throttle mechanism is provided in the lubricating oil passage between the oil reservoir and a position where the communication passage connects to the lubricating oil passage.

Abstract: A gas sensor apparatus 3 in an air-fuel ratio detection system 1 includes a gas sensor element 4 which outputs a detection signal corresponding to air-fuel ratio, and a gas sensor control circuit 2 which includes a detection section 20 for outputting a first output signal VIP1, a second output signal VIP2, and a third output signal VIP3 in accordance with the detection signal. This detection section 20 outputs the first output signal VIP1 which changes in accordance with the air-fuel ratio at least within a wide first air-fuel ratio zone, the second output signal VIP2 which changes in accordance with the air-fuel ratio within a narrow zone in the vicinity of the stoichiometric ratio, and the third output signal VIP3 which changes in accordance with the air-fuel ratio within a narrow zone in the lean region.

Abstract: In an apparatus comprising: an evaporator 1 for boiling and evaporating a cold/heat evaporable liquid under a reduced pressure; a condenser 2 for condensing vapor; a cold/heat indirect heat exchanger 6 at a load 14 side; a cooling heat exchanger 11 using the air; cold-heat circulation means 5 and 7 for circulating a cold/heat evaporable liquid in the evaporator to the cold/heat indirect heat exchanger; cooling circulation means 10 and 12 for circulating a cooling evaporable liquid in the condenser to the cooling heat exchanger; and a vapor compressor 20 provided in a vapor duct 19 extending from the evaporator to the condenser, a running cost is reduced when a temperature at the condenser side becomes lower than a temperature at the evaporator side due to a drop in air temperature, without a rise in a temperature of the cold/heat evaporable liquid. The vapor duct 19 is provided with a bypass vapor path 22 for bypassing the vapor compressor. The bypass vapor path is provided with an on-off valve 23.

Abstract: A compressor comprises a suction passage; an oil reservoir for storing a lubricating oil which is separated from a refrigerant gas having a discharge pressure; and a throttle valve provided in the suction passage and having a valve body for adjusting an opening degree of the suction passage based on a differential pressure applied to the valve body. The suction passage has an upstream suction passage which is located upstream of the throttle valve. The compressor comprises a lubricating oil passage connecting the oil reservoir to the upstream suction passage for the lubricating oil in the oil reservoir to flow to the upstream suction passage therethrough.

Abstract: A flow meter for a variable displacement compressor comprises a movable body operable to move by differential pressure, a magnet provided in the movable body, a magnetic sensor for detecting change of magnetic flux density of the magnet, a flow passage for refrigerant gas which is discharged from cylinder bores to flow therethrough, a sealed chamber connected perpendicularly to the flow passage and accommodating therein the movable body, an urging member for urging the movable body into the flow passage, a clearance formed between a movable body and an inner wall surface of the flow passage, a by-pass passage opened and closed as the movable body is moved in an axial direction of the movable body, and a communication passage for introducing into the sealed chamber the refrigerant gas in a downstream flow passage of the flow passage which is located downstream of the movable body.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a fan, a heat sink, and an attaching portion arranged to attach the fan to the heat sink. The fan includes an impeller rotating about a center axis, a motor arranged to rotate the impeller, and a base portion supporting the motor. The attaching portion includes a frame surrounding a portion of the impeller opposed to the heat sink, a plurality of supports projecting from the frame to a side opposite to the heat sink, and a plurality of supporting ribs connecting the supports and the base portion to each other, arranged about the center axis, and extending from the base portion away from the center axis. Each supporting rib has a first primary surface and a second primary surface arranged opposite to the impeller. The first and second primary surfaces are inclined with respect to a plane substantially perpendicular to the center axis.